Routine boat safety inspections will allow you to address any potential issues before they become problematic, meaning that you will be ready to enjoy season after season of smooth sailing.
But on top of this, your boat insurance may require you to undertake certain maintenance tasks, meaning that seasonal boat safety inspections can help you stay compliant, and covered.
This post will provide an essential checklist of seasonal boat safety inspections. We will outline the key things to check throughout the year to help you ensure compliance before peak activity.
Spring Boat Safety Inspection Checklist
In the early months of the spring, your safety checks will help you ensure your boat is ready for launch once the season truly begins:
- Hull – Look for any signs of damage, including chips, scratches, blisters, and dents. Check for signs of marine growth, and for signs of cracks or corrosion where the hull and keel join. You may need to apply a protective coat of paint, or even a coat of antifouling, to help keep things watertight.
- Engine – Check the oil and coolant levels, and top up where necessary. Also check your filters and belts for signs of wear and tear, and check your propellor for any signs of damage.
- Battery – Test your battery’s charge. Check the terminals for signs of corrosion, and if necessary, clean them.
- Sails – If your boat has sails, as we will cover below, you should take them down and wash them over the winter. Spring is a time for ensuring that both the sails and the lines are still in good condition, and getting any repairs if necessary.
- Safety Equipment – Is everything still in code? Does anything need topping up, or replacing? Check your boat’s life jackets, fire extinguishers, flares, and any other emergency equipment.
Summer Boat Safety Inspection Checklist
Summer is peak sailing season, and routine inspections before and after every excursion will help you ensure that everything stays in optimum condition throughout the season:
- Fuel System – Look out for any signs of leaks, and any loud noises or emissions that might suggest an issue with your fuel line or engine.
- Seals and Fittings – Keep an eye out for signs of leaks and water entry. Make sure that all cleats, seals, and other fittings are watertight.
- Keep Things Clean – Throughout the season, if you rinse your deck and hull with fresh water, you can remove a lot of salt and debris, which can make hull maintenance cheaper and easier through the off-season.
Autumn Boat Safety Inspection Checklist
As Autumn approaches, the sailing season will begin to wind down, and you will start to think about putting your boat into storage for winter. Some interim checks can help streamline the winterisation process:
- Hull – Check for any signs of damage. Consider adding a new layer of gelcoat, followed by a polish. You may need to carry out more substantial repairs in the winter, but this interim check can make things a little easier.
- Propeller – Check the propeller for signs of damage, and if necessary, remove any debris that may have become entangled.
- Engine – It is good practice to change your boat’s oil, along with the filters, at the end of each season. This can help protect the engine from corrosion over the winter.
Winter Boat Safety Inspection Checklist
If you take the time to properly prepare your boat for the winter, then you will not face an overwhelming list of servicing tasks once spring rolls around again.
Winter is a time for a thorough safety inspection for your whole boat, including the hull, the thru hull fittings, the propeller, the engine, and more.
Read our full guide to boat maintenance for the winter.
We also have a guide to servicing sailing equipment over the winter, and a guide to properly storing your boat through the winter months.
Boat Safety Inspections Will Help You Stay Compliant with Insurance Requirements
Your boat insurance may require you to undertake certain maintenance tasks. For example, some marine insurance policies may stipulate that you keep your boat onshore throughout the winter.
Year round boat safety inspections will not only help you keep your boat in good working order. They will also help you ensure that your policy will give you the cover you need should you ever make a claim.
Everard Insurance Brokers are the specialist marine trading division of accredited Lloyd’s brokers James Hallam Limited. We can help you ensure you have the insurance you need to cover your boat all year round.
Find out more about our dedicated marine insurance services.